British Take Down the Continental Army at Germantown
Battle of Germantown- October 4, 1777
The Continental Army marched to Germantown late on October 3, 1777. It was a sixteen mile march, and they hoped to get there before dawn. The Continental Army was hoping to surprise the British like they had done in the Battle of Trenton . This time, their strategy would not work because the Continental Army had trouble moving in the darkness and marched much more slowly than they had anticipated. There was only one column, containing militia, that was able to make it to the British camp before dawn. They had taken a position at the mouth of Wissahickon Creek. They had lost any chance of a surprise attack and were now in trouble.
Meanwhile British General William Howe had established a base camp along Schoolhouse and Church Lanes. The western part of camp, led by Hessian General Wilhelm von Knyphausen, had two jaeger battalions at his left flank. When the Continental Army approached the camp, the British would be ready.
The battle began about about five o'clock in the morning, and continued on for a while. At first the Continental Army's troops met with the British and made them retreat to Germantown. British Colonel Musgrave was now with 120 of his men, and went to protect the home and life of Chief Justice Chew. His home was called the Cliveden. General Henry Knox suggested to General George Washington (leader of the Continental Army) that it was unwise to allow a group of British soldiers to stay behind them, because they could attack the Continental Army from behind. The Continental Army attacked Cliveden, but the British returned in time to save the house, and this was not good for Washington. Washington's troops retreated back to Germantown where they and the British clashed. In the end, the British and Hessian troops defeated the Continental Army and took Germantown.
This is the Chew house - Cliveden (left) where the Continental Army and the British fought. The British are just getting to the house and forming lines in which to fight. As you can see in the picture, the British are nervous and have no time to get ready. Henry Knox (right) was a general in Washington's Continental Army, and was present at the Boston Massacre. He was promoted to major general after the Battle of Yorktown.
This picture is a map of the Battle of Germantown. As you can see in the picture, the British also had aid from their German allies, the Hessians. British General Cornwallis was stationed a safe distance away from the raging battle. Continental Army General Nathanael Greene was stationed next to Germantown, and had to retreat because the British Army was too strong for he and his men. The other officers with him were Adam Stephen and his divisions, and Alexander McDougall and his brigade. The Continental Army was surrounded everywhere and had no choice to retreat. The British had won the battle, but both forces suffered severe casualties. Washington lost 152 soldiers to death, 521 were wounded, and over 400 were capturedby the British. Perhaps the most significant loss was General Francis Nash. His leg was taken off by a cannonball, and he died five days later in the home of Adam Gotwels. A day later, they took his body and placed it in the Mennonite Meetinghouse in Towamencin to honor his service in the army. There were many casualties in this battle, and command of a main division was then given to Marquis de Lafayette. British General James Agnew was killed, and so were two other British officers including Lt. Col. Walcott of the 5th Regiment of Foot .
Battle of Germantown: Part 1
Battle of Germantown: Part 2
Battle of Germantown: Part 3
Battle of Germantown: Part 4
Three Questions:
1. What was the house of Chief Justice Chew called?
2. Which officer was the most significant loss for Washington and how did he die?
3. Why did Washington's surprise strategy not work at Germantown, like it had at the Battle of Trenton?
British Take Down the Continental Army at Germantown
Battle of Germantown- October 4, 1777The Continental Army marched to Germantown late on October 3, 1777. It was a sixteen mile march, and they hoped to get there before dawn. The Continental Army was hoping to surprise the British like they had done in the Battle of Trenton . This time, their strategy would not work because the Continental Army had trouble moving in the darkness and marched much more slowly than they had anticipated. There was only one column, containing militia, that was able to make it to the British camp before dawn. They had taken a position at the mouth of Wissahickon Creek. They had lost any chance of a surprise attack and were now in trouble.
Meanwhile British General William Howe had established a base camp along Schoolhouse and Church Lanes. The western part of camp, led by Hessian General Wilhelm von Knyphausen, had two jaeger battalions at his left flank. When the Continental Army approached the camp, the British would be ready.
The battle began about about five o'clock in the morning, and continued on for a while. At first the Continental Army's troops met with the British and made them retreat to Germantown. British Colonel Musgrave was now with 120 of his men, and went to protect the home and life of Chief Justice Chew. His home was called the Cliveden. General Henry Knox suggested to General George Washington (leader of the Continental Army) that it was unwise to allow a group of British soldiers to stay behind them, because they could attack the Continental Army from behind. The Continental Army attacked Cliveden, but the British returned in time to save the house, and this was not good for Washington. Washington's troops retreated back to Germantown where they and the British clashed. In the end, the British and Hessian troops defeated the Continental Army and took Germantown.
This is the Chew house - Cliveden (left) where the Continental Army and the British fought. The British are just getting to the house and forming lines in which to fight. As you can see in the picture, the British are nervous and have no time to get ready. Henry Knox (right) was a general in Washington's Continental Army, and was present at the Boston Massacre. He was promoted to major general after the Battle of Yorktown.
This picture is a map of the Battle of Germantown. As you can see in the picture, the British also had aid from their German allies, the Hessians. British General Cornwallis was stationed a safe distance away from the raging battle. Continental Army General Nathanael Greene was stationed next to Germantown, and had to retreat because the British Army was too strong for he and his men. The other officers with him were Adam Stephen and his divisions, and Alexander McDougall and his brigade. The Continental Army was surrounded everywhere and had no choice to retreat. The British had won the battle, but both forces suffered severe casualties. Washington lost 152 soldiers to death, 521 were wounded, and over 400 were capturedby the British. Perhaps the most significant loss was General Francis Nash. His leg was taken off by a cannonball, and he died five days later in the home of Adam Gotwels. A day later, they took his body and placed it in the Mennonite Meetinghouse in Towamencin to honor his service in the army. There were many casualties in this battle, and command of a main division was then given to Marquis de Lafayette. British General James Agnew was killed, and so were two other British officers including Lt. Col. Walcott of the 5th Regiment of Foot .
Battle of Germantown: Part 1
Battle of Germantown: Part 2
Battle of Germantown: Part 3
Battle of Germantown: Part 4
Three Questions:
1. What was the house of Chief Justice Chew called?
2. Which officer was the most significant loss for Washington and how did he die?
3. Why did Washington's surprise strategy not work at Germantown, like it had at the Battle of Trenton?